Video script length calculator
Work out how many words a script needs for a target video length, or how long a script you already wrote will run, at three speaking paces.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded. No signup needed.
Menivor turns a script like this straight into a rendered 1080 x 1920 video with AI voiceover and synced captions. Make it a finished video free
How to use it
- 1Pick a speaking pace (slow, natural or fast).
- 2Choose whether you're calculating from a target video length or from a script you already have.
- 3Enter the video length or the word count to get the other number.
About this script length calculator
Script length and spoken word count are not the same as reading time, because a script includes pauses, pacing changes and visual beats that a silent read skips over. Working from a words-per-minute pace gets much closer to the real runtime.
Natural speaking pace for voiceover and explainer videos runs about 150 words per minute. Slower, deliberate delivery drops to around 120 wpm, and fast, energetic delivery (common in short-form hooks and ads) runs up to 170 wpm or more.
Use this to size a script before recording: pick a target video length, get the word budget, then write to it. Or paste in a word count from a script you already have and see how long it will actually run at each pace.
Frequently asked questions
- How many words is a 1 minute video script?
- About 150 words at a natural speaking pace, 120 for slow and deliberate delivery, or up to 170 for fast, energetic delivery.
- How many words is a 60 second TikTok or Reel script?
- Short-form scripts tend to run faster than long-form, often 160 to 180 words per minute, so a 60-second script is usually 160 to 180 words.
- Does this account for pauses?
- The words-per-minute pace already reflects natural speech including normal pauses. For a script with long dramatic pauses or on-screen-only text, add extra seconds manually.
- How many words is a 10 minute video?
- At a natural 150 wpm pace, about 1,500 words. At a slower, more deliberate pace it can be closer to 1,200.
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Skip the busywork: get finished videos
Paste a link or type a topic. Menivor writes the hook and script, records the voiceover, adds footage and word-by-word captions, and renders ready-to-post vertical videos in 1080 x 1920.